To end its debilitating ‘climate wars’, Australia needs policies that deliver jobs and prosperity for communities in coal regions that are struggling in the transition to a zero-carbon economy. As examples from overseas (e.g. the Ruhr area in Germany) show, regional industrial diversification is possible but not easy. It builds on local skills, capabilities and entrepreneurship but is often stifled by a political appetite for quick wins and visible results. In the wake of the Hazelwood closure, the Latrobe Valley Authority is pioneering an entirely new approach to regional development, that is sensitive to local opportunities and challenges.  As an Australia first, the Gippsland Smart Specialisation Strategy is trialling and testing place-based development for smart, inclusive and sustainable growth.

This is the second in a series of Energy Transition Hub hosted events on issues related to coal transition.